Greenside Creativity

Game Improvement Techniques

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the fourth lesson in the Game Improvement Techniques series of drills you can do during the off-season to keep your short game sharp. If you missed the previous lessons you can catch up by clicking below.

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Now for todays drill...

This drill is designed to open your mind to the opportunity to play different, more creative shots around the green. Many golfers get stuck in the mind frame of using one club for all pitching and chipping situations. You might have no green to work with and a lofted club like a sand wedge would be perfect, yet it is not the best idea for a shot where there is a lot of green in between you and the hole. It is very hard to judge how much a sand wedge will roll out. When just off the green we are seeing more and more players use a rescue club or 3-wood to get the ball through the fringe and roll to the hole. This is actually an easy shot to get close to the hole that people do not ever think to try out on the course. This drill takes the sand wedge and pitching wedge out of your hands and has you learn how to use that hybrid or 3-wood. This is to teach you how the ball reacts to a chip shot with one of these clubs. The movement is just like a putting stroke and that is the same way you want to set-up to the ball. Grip down on the club to the bottom of the grip and stand closer to the ball with your eyes over it just like you would if making a putt.